Governors (US)

News about US Governors, including commentary and archival articles published in The New York Times.

Chronology of Coverage

Sep. 7, 2016

Growing number of Christian conservatives in states where Republican governors are resisting federal plans to resettle Syrian refugees are bucking that leadership; families helping Syrians integrate into their respective communities often cite lessons in Scripture for their reasons behind reaching out and helping. MORE

Jul. 13, 2016

Gov Mike Pence of Indiana prepares for possible role as vice presidential running mate for Donald J Trump; Republicans close to Trump agree Pence is low-risk choice, and Trump has praised him as successful governor who is known and respected in Washington. MORE

Feb. 29, 2016

Texas Democrats suggest dismissal of charges against former Gov Rick Perry by Republican-majority Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is politically motivated; Perry's opponents say he was given special treatment, while his supporters assert original charges against him were baseless and partisan. MORE

Feb. 25, 2016

Editorial praises guidelines proposed by National Governors Assn for regulating prescription painkillers; cites promising efforts already underway in some states and proposed at federal level to counter opioid addiction epidemic; warns doctors' resistance to reduction of their decision-making power must be balanced with government's duty to protect citizens. MORE

Feb. 22, 2016

National Governors Assn proposes guidelines to counter opioid overdose epidemic; group plans to push states for tighter restrictions on prescription painkillers; says resistance from doctors and drug companies forced governors from across political spectrum to act. MORE

Jan. 15, 2016

Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards's first week in office has offered glimpse into delicate political balancing act he will need to perform as Deep South's only Democratic governor; Edwards, who is conservative on some issues, must be cautious about angering Republicans in house as he must work with them to solve state's budget difficulties. MORE

Jan. 13, 2016

Louisiana Gov John Bel Edwards signs executive order expanding Medicaid coverage under Affordable Care Act, saying it will help 300,000 more people in one of nation's poorest states. MORE

Jan. 11, 2016

Editorial praises governors who have acted or are considering acting to override Republican state lawmakers' objections to expanding Medicaid; asserts rejecting federal matching funds for Medicaid is foolish and withholding healthcare from citizens for ideological reasons immoral; chastises handful of remaining holdouts. MORE

Jan. 3, 2016

Experience in governing has become liability in increasingly divisive 2016 presidential race in which government has drawn scorn from leading candidates and voters; it remains to be seen whether outsider highlighting their lack of experience and antipathy toward Washington will prevail over candidate with more traditional resume, like that of Ohio Gov John Kasich. MORE

Dec. 28, 2015

Republican governors in number of states have announced intention to expand Medicaid coverage under Affordable Care Act, even as many Republican members of Congress are working to end or hobble law; situation has led to divide between governors and lawmakers that can no longer be ignored. MORE

Dec. 16, 2015

Pres Obama speaks at naturalization ceremony at National Archives, saying 'immigrants and refugees revitalize and renew America' in speech meant as rebuke to hateful talk against Muslims and immigrants by 25 Republican governors who have voiced plans to block entry of Syrian refugees into their states; 31 people from 25 countries are sworn in as citizens during ceremony. MORE

Nov. 17, 2015

Twenty-five Republican governors say they will block entry of Syrian refugees into their states, arguing safety of Americans is at stake in wake of Paris terrorist attacks; other members of Congress and presidential candidates also defy Pres Obama's plan to resettle 10,000 Syrians. MORE

Aug. 28, 2015

Jim Dwyer About New York column examines case of Virginia woman Adele Langkil, whose 1985 conviction in New York State for carrying handgun continues to adversely affect her life today; notes that three New York governors have declined to pardon her, despite fact that she has proven herself to be worthy citizen; urges American governors to grant clemency towards decent people saddled with grossly unfair criminal convictions from the past. MORE

Aug. 4, 2015

Democratic Governors Assn is creating fund dedicated to winning races in states where governors play role in redistricting, and where new congressional maps could allow Democrats to win House seats that are now drawn in way to favor Republicans; fund will be used for governors’ races over next five years, leading up to 2020 census. MORE

Jul. 19, 2015

Oregon Gov Kate Brown, who took over for former Gov John Kitzhaber in midst of ethics investigation against him, has defined herself with more open and extroverted personality than Kitzhaber and stated commitment to transparency; despite praise she has earned, liberal Brown may face challenges in 2016 election in Republican-dominated state. MORE

Jul. 3, 2015

At least five Republican governors have signaled that they may refuse to carry out sweeping new climate change regulations issued by Pres Obama; refusals would set up clash between federal government and states over issue, and could hamper Obama as he seeks international partners; group includes Govs Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, both presidential candidates. MORE

Jun. 25, 2015

Gail Collins Op-Ed column reviews records of current and former governors who make up large segment of Republican presidential field; cites wasteful tax cuts and economic development programs initiated by Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal, former Texas Gov Rick Perry, former Florida Gov Jeb Bush, Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker and others. MORE

Mar. 26, 2015

Mar. 9, 2015

Editorial criticizes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for calling on nation's governors to undermine Pres Obama's push to regulate power plant emissions of carbon dioxide; argues that strategy is cynically political and deeply irresponsible, threatening to undo nation's credibility as a leader in the fight against climate change. MORE

Mar. 1, 2015

Editorial warns Wisconsin Gov Scott Walker, New Jersey Gov Chris Christie and Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal, as well as other Republican governors who may seek 2016 Republican presidential nomination, that they cannot run from their gubernatorial records; notes ways in which records of three men could open them up for criticism during Republican primary and during possible general election. MORE

Feb. 20, 2015

Port Authority of New York and New Jersey agrees to hire chief executive with no political ties to governors of New York or New Jersey in effort to end decades of dysfunctional infighting; search will begin in spring 2015 and is expected to end by that fall. MORE

Feb. 19, 2015

Kate Brown is sworn in as governor of Oregon, replacing predecessor John Kitzhaber, who resigned amid criminal and ethical investigations; former legislator with decades-long career in state-level public service, Brown says she seeks to restore public trust in government. MORE

Feb. 14, 2015

The Upshot; nearly all of the 10 Republican governors who have proposed tax increases have proposed increase in consumption taxes, which disproportionately affect poor and middle-class, even as they have proposed cuts to income taxes; report released by left-leaning think tanks Keystone Research Center and Good Jobs First suggest that similar mixes of tax policies have led to income redistribution upwards toward wealthy and has negatively affected state budgets. MORE

Jan. 25, 2015

At least eight Republican governors have proposed raising taxes in order to address budget deficits and take care of constituent demands that have grown in urgency after years of budget cuts; in some cases, governors have reneged on pledges to cut taxes; while shift is striking when compared to unflinching Republican position on taxes in Washington, change is due more to practical considerations than any philosophical disagreement. MORE

Jan. 12, 2015

Republican governors taking oaths of office across country express fewer ideologically focused priorities than in years past, but new pragmatism is likely to face opposition from conservative lawmakers; in 24 states where Republicans now control legislature, governors will have to negotiate legislative proposals that would further restrict abortion, roll back new education standards, and challenge Affordable Care Act. MORE

Jan. 3, 2015

Editorial commends New York Gov Mario Cuomo's years of service and lauds his idealism about potential of government and passion for defending its power to address plight of ordinary citizens; holds Cuomo's concerns during his governorship in 1980s seem prophetically relevant during modern debate over income inequality. MORE

Dec. 31, 2014

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column calls attention to Rhode Island Gov-elect Gina Raimondo, noting she is one of two female Democratic governors in the country; contrasts Raimondo's political approach with Sen Elizabeth Warren, who has excited left wing of the party. MORE

Nov. 20, 2014

Pres Obama's executive action giving new legal protections to five million illegal immigrants will immediately rebound to states, forcing dozens of Republican governors who oppose move to deal with problematical legal questions over illegals in their states. MORE

Nov. 19, 2014

Frank Bruni Op-Ed column observes majority of governors-elect have background private sector, suggesting Americans have decided to give different breed of leaders a chance; expresses agreement with Colorado Gov John Hickenlooper, chairman of National Governors Assn, who believes many of lessons of business can apply to state government, and that at its most basic level government needs to be more effective. MORE

Nov. 2, 2014

Editorial highlights Kansas Gov Sam Brownback and his tanking popularity as example of how voters seem ready to demand change from ruinous Republican policies; notes that some of the country's most damaging Republican governors are caught in tossup races with Democrats, despite Pres Obama's unpopularity and its effect on his party's chances. MORE

Oct. 31, 2014

Governors of both parties, in response to public anxiety over Ebola, are struggling to define public health policies on the virus; they are leaving confusing patchwork of rules regarding monitoring, restricting and quarantining health care workers who have treated Ebola patients, whether domestically or abroad. MORE

Oct. 28, 2014

Political Memo; New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, in Florida as part of 35-state tour, cheerfully fulfills obligations as chairman of Republican Governors Association week before midterm gubernatorial elections; in feats of compartmentalization, he seems to operate in two separate, identity-splitting spheres: the mischievous, pot-shot-taking partisan on the one hand, and the sober, crisis-managing governor on the other. MORE

Oct. 8, 2014

Editorial highlights accidental Internet disclosure in September showing influx of corporate money into governors' offices around country via social welfare groups with purpose of raising secret political money; contends that there is no legal justification for any political party to have social welfare group; warns that whether money is secret or disclosed, both Democrats and Republicans are routinely selling access to nations governors and their staffs to those with most resources. MORE

Sep. 28, 2014

New York Gov Andrew M Cuomo arrives in Afghanistan as part of delegation of governors visiting troops and receiving briefings on counterterrorism and security issues; Cuomo has increasingly looked beyond borders of New York State, raising questions about his political aspirations. MORE

Sep. 25, 2014

Unintended disclosure of documents from Republican Governors Association opens window onto corporate donors and size of their checks; documents show that many of America's most prominent companies, from Aetna to Walmart, have poured millions of dollars into campaigns of GOP governors since 2008. MORE

Aug. 1, 2014

First Lady Michelle Obama details progress of administration's effort to end homelessness among military veterans by end of 2015, saying Phoenix and Salt Lake City have already eliminated chronic homelessness among their veterans, and New Orleans is expected to do the same within six months; more than 180 mayors, governors and other leaders have joined effort. MORE

Jul. 14, 2014

Political Memo; same divisions that have stymied policy making in Congress are increasingly evident in ranks of nation's governors at summer meeting of National Governors Assn; many statehouse chiefs are as uneasy as Washington politicians about taking potentially controversial stances on range of issues that they scorn Washington for doing too little to address. MORE

Jul. 13, 2014

Republican gubernatorial candidates have built unexpectedly strong position for election in fall 2014, helped by improving economy, disaffection with Pres Obama and national fund-raising machine that is leagues ahead of their Democratic Party opponents; Republicans are faced with defending 22 of 36 governorships that will be up for grabs in November, led by New Jersey Gov Chris Christie, who is rebounding from scandal. MORE

Jun. 18, 2014

Governors of five New England states meet to devise a regional strategy to combat rise in overdoses and deaths from heroin and opioid abuse. MORE

May. 19, 2014

Democratic Party has so far failed to elect a woman to governorship in many Northeastern states, despite its long-running power in region; glass ceiling has emerged from male-dominated urban machine politics and unions, along with persistent prejudices; women have fewer opportunities to acquire executive experience in state and local offices, and it remains unlikely that pattern will be broken in coming election cycle. MORE

Apr. 6, 2014

Some Democratic governors are leery about having their states become next to legitimize marijuana use, despite slight majority of support by Americans. MORE

Apr. 2, 2014

New York University's Rudin Center for Transportation Policy and Management reports that Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has increasingly yielded to governors on fiscally dubious projects, contributing to a need to seek new revenue from bridge and tunnel toll increases; review of agency operations shows that major flaw is relentless desire to expand beyond the agency’s core transportation functions. MORE

Mar. 14, 2014

Reubin Askew, progressive 'New South' Democrat who promoted racial equality and ethics overhauls as a two-term governor of Florida, dies at age 85. MORE

Mar. 3, 2014

Former New York Gov David A Paterson's tenure is remembered in warmer light as his portrait is unveiled in Capitol's Hall of Governors; draws praise from Gov Andrew M Cuomo and others for shepherding the state through period of financial turmoil and for serving as role model for African-Americans and people with disabilities. MORE

Feb. 25, 2014

Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal's critical comments about Pres Obama in a news conference just after annual meeting of nation's governors at the White House prompts immediate partisan arguing among dozen or so governors assembled just steps from the Oval Office. MORE

Feb. 3, 2014

Unexpectedly robust revenues from taxes and other sources are filling most state coffers, creating surpluses not seen in years and prompting battles over what to do with the newfound money; many governors and legislators are deciding whether to cut taxes, restore spending or replenish rainy-day funds for future recessions. MORE

Jan. 16, 2014

National Governor's Association criticizes Congress for the political gridlock that it says has stymied passage of almost every federal initiative most needed by the states, and reiterates its calls for help from Washington. MORE

Nov. 22, 2013

Republican governors gathered at their annual meeting are deeply divided over Affordable Care Act; GOP governors eyeing 2016 presidential runs say they oppose health care law, but there is sharp disagreement among those who have helped carry out law and those who remain entrenched in opposition. MORE

Nov. 10, 2013

Many governors across the country are showing that it is possible to be successful and popular in elected office, even as Pres Obama and Congress are mired in partisan gridlock and suffering low poll numbers; contrast between statehouses and Washington is as stark as any in memory, reflecting not only the breakdown in the nation's capital but also a particularly activist class of governors. MORE